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of yours。〃
This speech was received with evident approval by the young Gy…ei in
general； but Taee's sister looked greatly abashed。 Poor thing！… and a
PRINCESS too！
Just at this moment a shadow fell on the space between me and the
group； and； turning round； I beheld the chief magistrate coming close upon
us； with the silent and stately pace peculiar to the Vril…ya。 At the sight of
his countenance； the same terror which had seized me when I first beheld
it returned。 On that brow； in those eyes； there was that same indefinable
something which marked the being of a race fatal to our own… that strange
expression of serene exemption from our common cares and passions； of
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conscious superior power； compassionate and inflexible as that of a judge
who pronounces doom。 I shivered； and； inclining low； pressed the arm of
my child…friend； and drew him onward silently。 The Tur placed himself
before our path； regarded me for a moment without speaking； then turned
his eye quietly on his daughter's face； and； with a grave salutation to her
and the other Gy…ei； went through the midst of the group；… still without a
word。
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CHAPTER XXVIII。
When Taee and I found ourselves alone on the broad road that lay
between the city and the chasm through which I had descended into this
region beneath the light of the stars and sun； I said under my breath；
〃Child and friend； there is a look 151in your father's face which appals me。
I feel as if； in its awful tranquillity； I gazed upon death。〃
Taee did not immediately reply。 He seemed agitated； and as if
debating with himself by what words to soften some unwelcome
intelligence。 At last he said； 〃None of the Vril…ya fear death： do you？〃
〃The dread of death is implanted in the breasts of the race to which I
belong。 We can conquer it at the call of duty； of honour； of love。 We
can die for a truth； for a native land； for those who are dearer to us than
ourselves。 But if death do really threaten me now and here； where are
such counteractions to the natural instinct which invests with awe and
terror the contemplation of severance between soul and body？〃
Taee looked surprised； but there was great tenderness in his voice as he
replied； 〃I will tell my father what you say。 I will entreat him to spare
your life。〃
〃He has； then； already decreed to destroy it？〃
〃'Tis my sister's fault or folly；〃 said Taee； with some petulance。 〃But
she spoke this morning to my father； and； after she had spoken； he
summoned me； as a chief among the children who are commissioned to
destroy such lives as threaten the community； and he said to me； 'Take thy
vril staff； and seek the stranger who has made himself dear to thee。 Be
his end painless and prompt。'〃
〃And；〃 I faltered； recoiling from the child… 〃and it is； then； for my
murder that thus treacherously thou hast invited me forth？ No； I cannot
believe it。 I cannot think thee guilty of such a crime。〃
〃It is no crime to slay those who threaten the good of the community；
it would be a crime to slay the smallest insect that cannot harm us。〃
〃If you mean that I threaten the good of the community because your
sister honours me with the sort of preference which a child may feel for a
strange plaything； it is not necessary to kill me。 Let me return to the
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people I have left； and by the chasm through which I descended。 With a
slight help from you I 152might do so now。 You； by the aid of your
wings； could fasten to the rocky ledge within the chasm the cord that you
found； and have no doubt preserved。 Do but that； assist me but to the
spot from which I alighted； and I vanish from your world for ever； and as
surely as if I were among the dead。〃
〃The chasm through which you descended！ Look round； we stand
now on the very place where it yawned。 What see you？ Only solid
rock。 The chasm was closed； by the orders of Aph…Lin； as soon as
communication between him and yourself was established in your trance；
and he learned from your own lips the nature of the world from which you
came。 Do you not remember when Zee bade me not question you as to
yourself or your race？ On quitting you that day； Aph…Lin accosted me；
and said； 'No path between the stranger's home and ours should be left
unclosed； or the sorrow and evil of his home may descend to ours。 Take
with thee the children of thy band； smite the sides of the cavern with your
vril staves till the fall of their fragments fills up every chink through which
a gleam of our lamps could force its way。'〃
As the child spoke； I stared aghast at the blind rocks before me。
Huge and irregular； the granite masses； showing by charred discolouration
where they had been shattered； rose from footing to roof…top； not a cranny！
〃All hope； then； is gone；〃 I murmured； sinking down on the craggy
wayside； 〃and I shall nevermore see the sun。〃 I covered my face with my
hands； and prayed to Him whose presence I had so often forgotten when
the heavens had declared His handiwork。 I felt His presence in the
depths of the nether earth； and amidst the world of the grave。 I looked up；
taking comfort and courage from my prayers； and； gazing with a quiet
smile into the face of the child； said； 〃Now； if thou must slay me； strike。〃
Taee shook his head gently。 〃Nay；〃 he said； 〃my father's request is
not so formally made as to leave me no choice。 I will speak with him；
and may prevail to save thee。 Strange 153that thou shouldst have that
fear of death which we thought was only the instinct of the inferior
creatures； to whom the convictions of another life has not been vouchsafed。
With us； not an infant knows such